Balladonia is a small roadhouse community located on the Eyre Highway in Western Australia. It is the first stop east of Norseman on the long journey east across the Nullarbor Plain. Between Balladonia and Caiguna is a 146.6 kilometre (91.1 mi) stretch of the highway which is one of the longest straight stretches of road in the world.
Wikipedia
Lake Cowen in the dry season between Kalgoorlie and Norsman WA.
Norseman, WA
It's here we bought our lunch and made sure we had provisions for the long trip across the Nullarbor.
Balladonia, WA All that is there is the Roadhouse.
The caravan park. There is no water only power.
There is a shower provided if you pay for the water.
The bush at Balladonia and our caravan parked for the night.
Fantastic photos! I passed through Balladonia when I was 14 years old on a caravanning holiday with my family. Great memories. Nothing allows you to get a real feel for how big (and unpopulated) Australia is until you traverse it by road. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThanks Wendy.
DeleteYou are certainly correct. To travel on the roads just does show you how large our country is, as we realize how small Europe is.
oh...I love that last shot
ReplyDeleteSomehow, I knew you would.
DeleteI agree with Author R. Mac Wheeler - beautiful shot Margaret, you must be pleased with it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rosemary. Yes, very pleased :)
DeleteHi Margaret, I too love the last shot.
ReplyDeleteThanks Nancy.
DeleteThe shot I like best is the first one of the caravan park.... But all are excellent.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bill.
DeleteSuch adventures you are having in you travel trailer. The opportunities for photos out in the wilderness are wonderful!
ReplyDeleteYes we did have a wonderful 3 month holiday.
DeleteAlways a photo to be taken.
Margaret I always admire your wildlife masterpiece of nature. The last photo is great
ReplyDeleteThank you Gosia.
DeleteThe sculpture of the camels seems very fitting as you stock up and depart on the long journey across the Nullarbor.
ReplyDeleteHow true. I didn't even think of that. We stock up and camels do with water :)
DeleteBeautiful photos, Margaret! I love your caravan.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lina.
DeleteAustralia - a country of contrasts.
ReplyDeleteI think sunsets are pretty similar all around the World - well
all that I have noticed are!
The photos showing the difference with a full and empty Lake Cowen
are great. The clouds above the dry one seem to have some precipitation
falling from them?? I wonder did it hit the ground - I have my doubts.
Just the "TEASING STUFF" that the outback has to watch and hope for.
Such a lonely life operating a roadhouse - but someone has to do it.
I have been meaning to ask. Did you and "Shanks" encounter any feral camels
on the roadside? These have become a pest now and number reputedly more than in Saudi Arabia!! I believe culling still continues to control the breeding of them.
Great photos, Margaret, of this part of Australia - shows the remoteness
and aridness of this part of Australia.
Oh the sunrise here was full on this morning - the glare of the roofs of the railway equipment buildings results the closing of the window until the sun gets up higher - ha ha.
Cheers
Colin
That stretch of highway 146 kms / 91 mls between Balladonia and Caiguna
Deletewould be dangerous to drive over at night - boredom resulting in driving off the road.
----
Still no rain for your terrible bushfire situation.
Colin
Colin,
DeleteLake Cowen is being shown as it was on the day I took it.
Sunsets are sunsets but each one is very different from the other one.
No rain with those colds, if there was didn't fall on us as we travelled.
Didn't see one camel or kangaroo, goat or any animal, just one snake.
Hard on the eyes that sun shinning on something then reflecting on the face..
Wouldn't attempt to drive from dusk till dawn, not safe, could hit anything whilst driving. Trucks do the night trip sometimes.
My parents have visited that roadhouse at Balladonia when they had their caravan I have not as I have only been to two others states Vic & Qld but maybe one day I will get the chance to see more of this great country
ReplyDeleteBalladonia Roadhouse had revamp, and it's much better now.
DeleteI think that was our 3rd time across the Nullarbor.
When you show Western Australia like that - cut off from the rest of the country, you realise just how big it is!
ReplyDeleteWA is very large. I wonder is there a comparison somewhere to other countries in this world.
DeleteI love the camel sculptures. Thanks for providing the maps. It really helps to understand Australian geography.
ReplyDeleteI'm pleased you like the map. It certainly helps to know where places are that I'm talking about.
DeleteThe land is so empty and so beautiful, I really like that sunset.
ReplyDeleteWas a nice sunset. The land is so large in so many areas in Australia, it seems to never ending.
DeleteSuperb landscape in every picture, I love your photos Margaret.
ReplyDeleteThank you Bob :)
Deleteyour photos are amazing and just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI thank you for the travel! I will follow you with pleasure !!
Thank you Jens. Lovely to have you :)
DeleteThe plants there look so exotic. Great shots!
ReplyDeleteTo you they may look exotic, to we Australians who have travelled by vehicle are used to those plants. They are plants of the outback.
DeleteWOW M you always share the best photos and information. I love this trip. HUGS xo G
ReplyDeleteThanks G. To me it's important for all to know about the photo if possible.
DeleteHugs M xoxox
Beautiful and long distance , by your country, with fabulous plains.
ReplyDeleteKisses
Wild outback of Australia.
DeleteGreat Southern Land....great, vast, southern land. It never cease to amaze.
ReplyDeleteImagine the oceans, how large they are. It's never ending really.
Delete